Railcar Cover Systems

ABSTRACT

A cover assembly for an open top railcar, the assembly having semi-rigid cover reversibly movable between a closed position atop the railcar and an open position alongside the railcar or separate from it. The cover may be connected to the railcar with hinge-latches or linkage arms which permit the cover to be held flat alongside the railcar in an open position, or removed from the railcar during loading and unloading. A load grooming device shapes the load of a loaded railcar to a selected contour. Opening and closing of covers may be continuous and automated, using curved tracks, cranes or mechanical arms to engage and open covers, and conveying devices or vehicles to handle covers during loading and unloading of railcars.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. non-provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 12/038,348 filed Feb. 27, 2008, and claimspriority from U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/288,786 filedDec. 21, 2009.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to rail car cover systems. In particular,the present invention relates to cover systems for open top rail cars.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is known to provide open top railway cars, whether bottom dumphoppers or top unloading gondolas, which may be fitted with removablecovers to enclose the top openings. These covers typically may be liftedfree of the cars for loading, or, in the case of gondolas, forunloading. Once a load has been loaded or unloaded, the cover may bereplaced.

Such covers provide a number of benefits, including product containment,for example, prevention of ingress of dust, which represents anenvironmental hazard, and prevention of product loss. Other benefitsinclude product protection, for example, protection from rain or snowand protection from debris. Many different granular or powder productsmay be shipped in this way, including minerals, grains, hazardous waste,coal, and other products.

Typically, such covers are fastened onto railcars with various types ofclamps or brackets which fix the cover to the car and prevent it fromcoming loose in transit, but which allow manual or automatic opening inorder to handle the cover.

Covers typically may be manufactured of steel, aluminum, or variouscomposite materials, each of which has its advantages and disadvantages.Covers may be built as a single piece covering the full length and widthof the railcar, or as two or more pieces, depending on the materialselected and the circumstances of operation. Due to their large size andmanner of removal, prior art rail car covers require fixed or mobileheavy equipment for removal and replacement, as well as large areas formoving and stacking removed covers.

The weight of each cover can be significant, ranging from 1500 lbs for acomposite cover to as much as 5000 lbs for a steel cover. The coverweight reduces the effective payload of the rail car, thereby reducingthe cargo load the user can haul.

In high volume situations, it is often not possible to arrange asuitable method for removal and replacement of covers. For instance, ina coal loading facility, the rail cars typically do not stop moving, butare driven slowly in one long string through the facility under loadingchutes and exit the far side of the loading facility which may beseveral hundred feet away. Slowing or stopping of trains is generallynot an option. The logistics of lifting covers off at the entrance tothe facility, moving them around the facility to the loadout area at theloading facility exit, and replacing the covers on the railcars, makeuse of covers very problematic. As a result, to date, no large scaleloading operations of this type have been converted to covered cars.

On the unloading end, the problem is similar. For unloading gondola typerailcars, high volume operations such as coal will use a railcar dumper,a large device which rotates about the axis of the railcar couplers,completely inverting one or more railcars at a time, while they remaincoupled to the cars ahead and behind.

Past and current solutions have included lifting of covers within thedumper building over the dumper itself. This adds time to the dumpcycle, and is not suitable for retrofit situations, as dumper buildingstypically do not have the space capacity for such a cover liftingmechanism, and many dumpers are constructed with part of their mechanismover top of the car, which would prevent removal of the rail car cover.This solution also would not work at the loading end. Accordingly, a newcover removal system is needed.

Any bulk material cover system may not function if the load is too highor spills onto sills or tail areas of the rail car. Problems in loadingare common. A device is needed to groom the shape profile of a rail carload on a continuously moving string or rail cars.

In the drawings, selected embodiments of the invention are illustratedby way of example. It is to be expressly understood that the descriptionand drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and as an aid tounderstanding, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of theinvention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

There is provided a cover assembly for a railcar of the type having atop opening and first and second sides, the cover assembly comprising asemi-rigid cover having opposed first and second side edges; first andsecond linkage means, first linkage means connecting first side edge tofirst side, and second linkage means connecting second side edge tosecond side; wherein cover is reversibly movable between a closedposition atop the railcar and an open position alongside either thefirst or the second side of the railcar.

The linkage means may comprise one or more pairs of arm linkages, eacharm linkage pivotally connected at a first end to the cover and at asecond end to the railcar. The linkage means may comprise one or morepairs of hinge-latches, a first hinge-latch of each pair reversiblyconnecting the first side edge of the cover to the corresponding side ofthe railcar, and a second hinge-latch of each pair connecting the secondside edge of the cover to the corresponding side of the railcar. Eachhinge-latch may comprise a car sub-component mounted on the railcar, anda cover sub-component mounted on the cover.

The car sub-component of the hinge-latch may include at least one hingerod receptacle having a selectively shaped receiving plate and a groovefor receiving a hinge rod, and the corresponding cover sub-component ofthe hinge-latch may comprise a plate attached to the external surface ofthe cover, opposing parallel brackets extending perpendicularly fromopposing edges of the plate, and a hinge rod extending between theparallel brackets, wherein the hinge rod is reversibly and pivotallyengageable with the groove of the receiving plate.

In another of its aspects, there is provided a hinge-latch for a coverfor an open top railcar, wherein the hinge-latch may comprise a carsub-component mounted on the railcar, and a cover sub-component mountedon the cover, wherein the car sub-component of the hinge-latch includesat least one hinge rod receptacle having a selectively shaped receivingplate and a groove for receiving a hinge rod, and the correspondingcover sub-component of the hinge-latch may comprise a plate attached tothe external surface of the cover, opposing parallel brackets extendingperpendicularly from opposing edges of the plate, and a hinge rodextending between the parallel brackets, wherein the hinge rod may bereversibly and pivotally engageable with the groove of the receivingplate. The groove of the receiving plate may be selectively shaped topermit entry and egress of the hinge rod of the cover sub-component inonly a selected range of directions.

The cover assembly may further comprise a first end closure door at afirst longitudinal end of the cover and a second end closure door at anopposing second longitudinal end of the cover, each end closure doorpivotable about a lower straight edge and about an apex. Each endclosure door may be convertible between a position co-planar to thecover when the cover is in an open position and a non-planar raisedposition when the cover is in a closed position.

The cover system may comprise a flexible cover and connection means forconnecting the cover to an open top railcar, wherein the cover may bereversibly convertible between an planar configuration in a relaxed openposition alongside the railcar, and a convex configuration in a closedposition under tension atop the railcar. The connection means maycomprise a plurality of pairs of the hinge-latches. The force of thetension of the closed position may be used to maintain the bar of thecar sub-component within the notch of the cover sub-component.

In one of the aspects of the invention, there is provided a cover systemfor open top railcars comprising cover means for reversibly covering theopen top of the railcar; cover attachment means for reversibly attachingthe cover means to an open top rail car; cover lifting means for movingcover means from a closed position to an open position; cover engagementmeans for releasably connecting cover lifting means to cover means; andsupport means for positioning and guiding the cover lifting means.

The cover system may further comprise cover transport means for movingcover means from a railcar unloading location to a railcar loadinglocation. The cover means may be a unitary cover convertible between aconvex closed position atop the railcar and a flat open position. Thecover means may comprise a plurality of covers, each cover covering aportion of the opening of the railcar.

The cover attachment means may comprise a plurality of hinge-latches, ora plurality of arm linkages, each arm linkage pivotally connected at afirst end to the cover and at a second end to the railcar.

The cover system further may comprise receiving means, wherein the coverlifting means may have a stationary opening mechanism at a railcarloading facility, the opening mechanism having engaging means forengaging the receiving means of the cover system and lifting the coveras the railcar moves past the opening mechanism. The cover systemfurther may comprise receiving means, wherein the cover lifting meansmay have one or more arms for engaging the receiving means of the coversystem and lifting the cover. The arms may be multiple joint arms.

The cover system further may comprise receiving means, wherein the coverlifting means have a crane apparatus for engaging the receiving means ofthe cover system and lifting the cover. The cover lifting means may be afixed helical guide which engages the cover and lifts the cover as therailcar moves past the guide. The support means may be an overheadstructural frame.

Alternatively, the support means may be a ground based curved trackabove and around a string of railcars.

According to another of its aspects, the invention provides a method forreversibly opening a cover from each of the railcars of a string of opentop railcars, comprising the steps of: a. moving the string of railcarsalong a track until the first railcar is in a cover opening position; b.opening the cover; c. moving the string of railcars further along thetrack until the next railcar is in the cover opening position; d.repeating steps b and c until all covers have been opened; and e.closing each open cover as it reaches a cover closing position along thetrack.

The method may further comprises temporarily removing the cover from therailcar after opening the cover, and transporting the removed cover fromthe cover opening position to the cover closing position. The removedcover may be transported by a mechanical conveyance device such as aconveyor belt, or by a vehicle.

In another of its aspects, the invention provides a load grooming devicefor shaping the top side of a load in an open top railcar, the loadgrooming device comprising a selectively contoured member reversiblypositionable above a loaded railcar, whereby relative movement of therailcar past the contoured member shapes the load according to theselected contour. The load grooming device may comprise sensor means fordetecting the height of a railcar load.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a system for removal and replacement oftop-loading open top rail car covers. According to one embodiment of thepresent invention, there is provided a semi-automatic or fully automaticsystem for continuous serial handling of rigid or self supporting railcar covers for gondola rail cars. Preferably, a continuous method isused to ensure use of covered rail cars does not interfere with methodsof car loading or unloading for continuously moving trains.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, similartechnology may also be used for situations in which train motion isintermittent at loading or unloading locations, but is part of acontinuous industrial process. Use of an intermittent method ensuresthat use of covered cars does not interfere with methods of car loadingor unloading for intermittently moving trains.

According to an embodiment of the system of the present invention, thereis provided cover means for an open top rail car, cover attachment meansfor reversibly attaching a cover to an open top rail car, cover liftingmeans for moving a cover from a closed position to an open position,cover engagement means for releasably connecting cover lifting means toa cover, support means for positioning and guiding the cover liftingmeans, and cover transport means for moving a cover from a rail carunloading location to a rail car loading location. Coordinated operationof the system of the present invention will be achieved with variousconfigurations of computers, sensors, controls, motors and actuators.

The cover means may be a cover 2 comprising a single unit per rail car,or it may comprise a plurality of covers on each car. Preferably, therail car covers are sufficiently self supporting when in a closedposition attached to the top of a rail car as to hold an intendedthree-dimensional shape. Preferably, each cover is sufficiently flexibleacross its width as to be able to lie flat against the gondola car whenin an open position. In one embodiment, a semi-rigid cover may consistof a cover body that, when unstressed, would lay flat, with or withoutpivoting or flexible end door closures.

Each cover is attachable to the top of a rail car over the rail caropening. Each cover 2 may be unlatched along one edge 4 on a first side6 of the cover and rotated about a second edge 8 on an opposing secondside 10 of the cover from a closed position atop the rail car to an openposition alongside the rail car, wherein the string of rail cars ismoving on a continuous basis.

As depicted in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, a pair of helical tracks 12, 14 may beused to engage a railcar cover 2 and rotate it 270 degrees along oneedge to an open position alongside the railcar. FIG. 1 is an end view ofthe helix structure 16 and a railcar 18 with the cover in a closedposition. FIG. 2 is a top view of the helix structure with a railcarcover in the closed position. FIG. 3 is a side view of the helixstructure with a railcar cover in the closed position.

According to one embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIG. 4,the cover attachment means may be one or more arm linkages 20, 22. Theselinkages may be attached to and pivotable both on the car 18 and on thecover 2 to enable the cover to hang to the side of the car when in anopen position.

According to another embodiment, the cover attachment means may bepivotable links. As the cover is rotated from a closed position atop therail car into an open position alongside the rail car, the cover hangsalongside the rail car, suspended by the pivotable links.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the coverattachment means may be a hinge-latch system. The preferred arrangementof hinge-latches is a plurality of hinge-latches along each side of therail car. Preferably, each cover may be opened by rotation about eitherof the opposed longitudinal sides. A rail car may enter a facilityeither with a first end forward, or an opposing second end forward,requiring the capacity to open the cover to both sides. Ideally, thecover attachment means may serve as both a latch and a hinge.

The hinge-latch 24 of the present invention comprises two majorcomponents. A car component is mounted on the rail car, and a covercomponent is attached to the cover. The car component has a receiver inthe form of a groove 30 to receive a bar 32 of the cover component. Thecover component further comprises a latch element 34 comprising a flange36 and a looped bar 32 for engaging the receiver. The latch elementsnaps into the receiver. The cover component is rotatable about the axisof the bar.

In a closed position each hinge-latch anchors a semi-rigid cover to therail car to maintain the cover shape necessary for the cover to beself-supporting. Covers are sufficiently flexible across their width tolay flat against a gondola car when in an open position, but when in aclosed position on top of a car, the covers of the present inventionhave an outward spring effect, presenting a convex surface on the top ofthe rail car. In one embodiment of the present invention, this springaction is used to operate the latch mechanism, thereby reducing the needfor moving parts and simplifying the hardware. As the cover is rotatedfrom a closed position to an open position, the bar of the covercomponent is released from the receiver of the car component.Conversely, as the cover is rotated into a closed position, the bar ofthe cover component is engaged by the receiver of the car component. Thetension of the spring effect resulting from the resilience of thesemi-rigid cover holds the bar in the latch mechanism.

Each hinge-latch must hold a cover against all loads and imposed forces.As wind loads on covers may tend to pull up against the weight of thecover, the latch must resist upward pull. The hinge latch may resistthis force with several mechanisms. According to one embodiment of theinvention, a spring-loaded pawl mechanism is used. Upward wind forceswill act within a limited range of angles with respect to the latchcomponents. The groove on the car component may be shaped to preventrelease under these upward wind forces by the use of particularlyselected internal contours. The effect is to prevent the latch systemfrom releasing when pulled in a particular range of directions, whileallowing the latch system to release with ease in other directions ofpull such as are required for installation or removal.

As depicted in FIG. 5, each hinge consists of two sub-assemblies, acover sub-assembly 26 associated with the cover, and a car sub-assembly28 associated with the top sill or gunnel of the railcar. The coversub-assembly consists of a plate 38 attached to the external surface 40of the cover. A pair of parallel brackets 42, 44 extend perpendicularlyout from the plate, with a transverse hinge bar 32 extending between theparallel brackets, generally colinearly with the top sill 46 of therailcar. The car sub-assembly of each hinge consists of at least onehinge bar receptacle 48, each hinge bar receptacle having a selectivelyshaped receiving plate 50 to guide the hinge bar into a locking positionas the cover closes. When closed, the hinge bar of the coversub-assembly sits in a groove 30 cut into each hinge rod receptacle.

Each cover may be unlatched along one edge and rotated from a closedposition to an open position from a moving string of rail cars in acontinuous process.

There are several options for opening the covers. In operation, thecover is firmly locked to the top sill of the rail car when travelingbetween loading and unloading facilities. As the car approaches aloading or unloading site, it travels under or past an openingmechanism. As each car approaches and passes the opening mechanism,engaging means may engage hardware on the cover to enable the cover tobe lifted and moved into an open position.

As shown in FIGS. 6, 7, 8, and 9, cover lifting means may comprise oneor more single joint arms or multiple joint arms 52. The jointed-armsmay position cover engaging means to engage hardware on the cover toenable it to be opened. Alternatively, cover lifting means may comprisea crane-like 54 apparatus to lift and manipulate the covers.

The cover lifting means may engage hardware on the cover to enable thecover to be opened. The cover lifting means may lift one longitudinaledge of the cover upwardly and rotate it into an open position flatagainst the side of the car. In this open position, the cover is clearof the loading and unloading processes. In one embodiment, the cover maytravel with the rail car through the loading or unloading process. Afterloading or unloading, cover lifting means may engage hardware on thecover and rotate the cover into a closed position atop the rail carbefore releasing the cover hardware.

The cover lifting means may comprise a fixed guide which engages thecover or hardware on the cover, to enable it to be opened by the motionof the rail car relative to the position of the guide. As the rail carmoves past the guide, the guide lifts the leading edge of the cover upand rotates the cover along the geometric path of the guide such thatthe cover is rotated into an open position alongside the rail car. Theprocess may be used in reverse to return the cover from an open positionto a closed position atop the rail car.

The shape of the guide causes the cover to rotate about its pivot axis,which may be a series of hinges on the side of the cover, until theentire top of the railcar is exposed. This partially open position isachieved with a cover rotation of at least 90 degrees. The cover maythen be supported in this partially open position while material isloaded in the car, or it may be rotated further to a fully openposition, at which position it will lay against the side of the railcar.If necessary to avoid structural components of the loading or unloadingfacility, the cover may be forcible compressed, by the use of an angledwall, pipe or similar deforming device along the cover's lower edgetowards the car body, flattening the cover into a smaller volume.

As the car exits the loading or unloading area, a guide engages thecover and rotates the cover from an open position into a closedposition. Once the cover is closed, the cover hardware may bedisengaged, allowing the cars to travel to their next destination.

The support means for removing and transporting the rail car covers maybe overhead means or ground-based means. In one embodiment of thepresent invention, the support means may comprise an overhead structuralframe 56 for supporting the cover lifting means. The cover lifting meansmay comprise crane means attached to the support means for lowering acover handling device to engage hardware on the cover. Once engaged,according to one embodiment, the cover may be picked up and moved awayfrom the rail car.

According to another embodiment, a frame supports a mechanical system ofjointed arms above or beside a string of rail cars having covers.

According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a framesupports a curved track 58 above and around a string of rail cars withcovers. The track supports a mechanical device that moves along a pathdescribed by the geometry of the track. The mechanical device carried onthe track positions a handling device over the rail car to engagehardware on the cover to enable the cover to be opened into an openposition alongside the rail car as described above.

In one embodiment, each cover remains attached to the rail car along oneedge as the rail car travels through a loading or unloading process.Once through the loading or unloading process, the cover is rotated backinto the closed position.

In an alternate embodiment, covers may be completely removed from therail cars at an unloading site and transported by a conveying system toa loading site for replacement on the rail cars. A continuous belt orchain mechanical conveyor system may be used. The handling device liftsthe cover away from the car and deposits the cover on a mechanicalconveyance device such as a belt or chain conveyor that carries thecover away from the path of the cars. The mechanical conveyance devicemay direct the cover around a loading or unloading facility to asubsequent location for replacing covers on the cars.

Alternatively, rail car covers may be removed at a cover removallocation and stockpiled on vehicles for transport to a cover replacementlocation.

In one embodiment, inclined tracks may guide a mechanical devicecarrying the rail car cover upwardly and away from the path of the railcars. The tracks may convey the cover around a loading or unloadingfacility to a location for replacement of covers on the cars. In apreferred embodiment, the same cover removed from a selected car may bereplaced on that car. Alternatively, it may be desirable to placeanother cover on the selected car. At the replacement location, themechanical device may be guided along an inclined track toward the pathof the line of rail cars to permit the mechanical device to replace thecover and release it on top of the rail car.

Covers may be removed from a moving train of rail cars on a continuousbasis to be transported away from the rail car, around a loading orunloading process then returned to the string of rail cars and replacedon the cars

In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the removed covermay be deposited by the cover lifting means on a transport cart orvehicle similar to a road trailer or purpose-built car running on aguideway which may carry a plurality of covers away from the path of therail cars. The transport cart or similar vehicle may deliver a pluralityof covers around a loading or unloading facility to a subsequentlocation for replacement of the covers on the cars.

In another aspect, the present invention may comprise a semi-automaticor fully automatic system for controlling the shape profile of the topof a bulk material load on a moving gondola rail car loaded at anotherlocation to assure functioning of the rail car cover system. Aframe-supported mechanism may lower a load grooming device that can berun along the top of the load. The device may resemble a plow with abottom edge contoured to the appropriate shape. The plow may beaugmented by augers, paddle wheels, or other mechanical devices toredistribute the material into the best shape. The machine will detectand respond to the height of the car to provide a consistent profileshape of the load. The device may move in the same direction as the carsat a relatively high speed, or in a retrograde direction at a relativelyslower speed. Alternatively, the device may remain fixed relative to theground while allowing the train to move under it, thereby grooming theload profile.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, as shown in FIG.10, each cover system further comprises a pair of end closure doors.Each end closure door 60 is shaped to conform to the contour of thecover system and is pivotable along its lower straight edge 62 and itsapex 64. The pivoting means on the lower edge may rotate on two axis andmay adjust to conform to the change in shape of the cover as it opens.The pivoting means on the apex rotates on one axis and adjusts toconform to the change in shape of the cover as it opens. The end closuredoor rotates into a flat position 66 when the cover is in an openposition. When the cover is in a closed position, the end closure doorrotates into a raised position 68 to prevent entry of rain, snow ordebris and loss of material during transport.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that other variationsof the preferred embodiment may also be practiced without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

1. A cover assembly for a railcar of the type having a top opening andfirst and second sides, the cover assembly comprising: a semi-rigidcover having opposed first and second side edges; first and secondlinkage means, first linkage means connecting first side edge to firstside, and second linkage means connecting second side edge to secondside; wherein cover is reversibly movable between a closed position atopthe railcar and an open position alongside either the first or thesecond side of the railcar.
 2. The cover assembly of claim 1, whereinthe linkage means comprise one or more pairs of arm linkages, each armlinkage pivotally connected at a first end to the cover and at a secondend to the railcar.
 3. The cover assembly of claim 1, wherein thelinkage means comprise one or more pairs of hinge-latches, a firsthinge-latch of each pair reversibly connecting the first side edge ofthe cover to the corresponding side of the railcar, and a secondhinge-latch of each pair connecting the second side edge of the cover tothe corresponding side of the railcar.
 4. The cover assembly of claim 3,wherein each hinge-latch comprises a car sub-component mounted on therailcar, and a cover sub-component mounted on the cover.
 5. The coverassembly of claim 4, wherein the car sub-component of the hinge-latchincludes at least one hinge rod receptacle having a selectively shapedreceiving plate and a groove for receiving a hinge rod, and thecorresponding cover sub-component of the hinge-latch comprises a plateattached to the external surface of the cover, opposing parallelbrackets extending perpendicularly from opposing edges of the plate, anda hinge rod extending between the parallel brackets, wherein the hingerod is reversibly and pivotally engageable with the groove of thereceiving plate.
 6. A hinge-latch for a cover for an open top railcar,wherein the hinge-latch comprises a car sub-component mounted on therailcar, and a cover sub-component mounted on the cover, wherein the carsub-component of the hinge-latch includes at least one hinge rodreceptacle having a selectively shaped receiving plate and a groove forreceiving a hinge rod, and the corresponding cover sub-component of thehinge-latch comprises a plate attached to the external surface of thecover, opposing parallel brackets extending perpendicularly fromopposing edges of the plate, and a hinge rod extending between theparallel brackets, wherein the hinge rod is reversibly and pivotallyengageable with the groove of the receiving plate.
 7. The hinge-latch ofclaim 6, wherein the groove of the receiving plate is selectively shapedto permit entry and egress of the hinge rod of the cover sub-componentin only a selected range of directions.
 8. The cover assembly of claim1, further comprising a first end closure door at a first longitudinalend of the cover and a second end closure door at an opposing secondlongitudinal end of the cover, each end closure door pivotable about alower straight edge and about an apex.
 9. The cover assembly of claim 8,wherein each end closure door is convertible between a positionco-planar to the cover when the cover is in an open position and anon-planar raised position when the cover is in a closed position.
 10. Acover system for an open top railcar, comprising a flexible cover andconnection means for connecting the cover to an open top railcar,wherein the cover is reversibly convertible between an planarconfiguration in a relaxed open position alongside the railcar, and aconvex configuration in a closed position under tension atop therailcar.
 11. The cover system of claim 10, wherein the connection meanscomprise a plurality of pairs of the hinge-latches of claim
 6. 12. Thecover system of claim 11, wherein the force of the tension of the closedposition maintains the bar of the car sub-component within the notch ofthe cover sub-component.
 13. A cover system for open top railcarscomprising: cover means for reversibly covering the open top of therailcar; cover attachment means for reversibly attaching the cover meansto an open top rail car; cover lifting means for moving cover means froma closed position to an open position; cover engagement means forreleasably connecting cover lifting means to cover means; and supportmeans for positioning and guiding the cover lifting means.
 14. The coversystem of claim 13, further comprising cover transport means for movingcover means from a railcar unloading location to a railcar loadinglocation.
 15. The cover system of claim 13, wherein the cover means is aunitary cover convertible between a convex closed position atop therailcar and a flat open position.
 16. The cover system of claim 13,wherein the cover means comprises a plurality of covers, each covercovering a portion of the opening of the railcar.
 17. The cover systemof claim 13, wherein the cover attachment means comprises a plurality ofthe hinge-latches of claim
 6. 18. The cover system of claim 13, whereinthe cover attachment means comprises a plurality of arm linkages, eacharm linkage pivotally connected at a first end to the cover and at asecond end to the railcar.
 19. The cover system of claim 13, the coversystem further comprising receiving means, wherein the cover liftingmeans comprises a stationary opening mechanism at a railcar loadingfacility, the opening mechanism having engaging means for engaging thereceiving means of the cover system and lifting the cover as the railcarmoves past the opening mechanism.
 20. The cover system of claim 13, thecover system further comprising receiving means, wherein the coverlifting means comprises one or more arms for engaging the receivingmeans of the cover system and lifting the cover.
 21. The cover system ofclaim 20, wherein the arms are multiple joint arms.
 22. The cover systemof claim 13, the cover system further comprising receiving means,wherein the cover lifting means comprises a crane apparatus for engagingthe receiving means of the cover system and lifting the cover.
 23. Thecover system of claim 19, wherein the cover lifting means furthercomprises a fixed helical guide which engages the cover and lifts thecover as the railcar moves past the guide.
 24. The cover system of claim13, wherein the support means comprises an overhead structural frame.25. The cover system of claim 13, wherein the support means comprises aground based curved track above and around a string of railcars.
 26. Amethod for reversibly opening a cover from each of the railcars of astring of open top railcars, comprising the steps of: a. moving thestring of railcars along a track until the first railcar is in a coveropening position; b. opening the cover; c. moving the string of railcarsfurther along the track until the next railcar is in the cover openingposition; d. repeating steps b and c until all covers have been opened;and e. closing each open cover as it reaches a cover closing positionalong the track.
 27. The method of claim 26, wherein step b furthercomprises temporarily removing the cover from the railcar.
 28. Themethod of claim 27, wherein step b further comprises transporting theremoved cover from the cover opening position to the cover closingposition.
 29. The method of claim 28, wherein the removed cover istransported by a mechanical conveyance device.
 30. The method of claim29, wherein the mechanical conveyance device is a conveyor belt.
 31. Themethod of claim 28, wherein the removed cover is transported by vehicle.32. A load grooming device for shaping the top side of a load in an opentop railcar, the load grooming device comprising a selectively contouredmember reversibly positionable above a loaded railcar, whereby relativemovement of the railcar past the contoured member shapes the loadaccording to the selected contour.
 33. The load grooming device of claim32, further comprising sensor means for detecting the height of arailcar load.